Fact-Checking Trump’s Claims from Camp David

During a Cabinet meeting on Friday at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland, President Donald Trump made several claims that require scrutiny. These statements touched on cyberattacks, immigration, and prescription drug prices.

Cyberattacks in Minnesota

Trump attributed recent cyberattacks in Minnesota to the state itself, accusing Democratic Gov. Tim Walz of being to blame. Trump stated, “I think that Minnesota is behind it. You know who’s behind it? Minnesota. Because they’re grossly incompetent. I think the governor is behind it. I don’t think there was an Iranian cyberattack.”

The Facts: Authorities have not publicly identified the source of cyberattacks targeting over 30 water systems in Minnesota. Security officials have, however, warned about Iranian hackers focusing on such systems. An advisory from the FBI and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency last week noted Iran’s interest in U.S. water systems. Cynthia Kaiser, a former FBI official, noted Iran’s “geopolitical motivations” to target such infrastructure. Previously, in 2016, Iranian hackers were charged with targeting a small dam near New York City. These facilities often lack the resources for proper cybersecurity, making them vulnerable targets.

After the meeting, Gov. Walz responded on X, saying, “Trump knows exactly who is responsible for this attack, and knows that other states were hit too. This is what modern warfare looks like, and it further illustrates there’s no plan to win a war with Iran.” Walz also criticized the Trump administration’s Department of Government Efficiency for weakening the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency.

Prescription Drug Prices

Trump claimed his administration secured “record discounts” on prescription drugs, suggesting price reductions of 300% to 600%.

The Facts: This claim is misleading. Lowering drug prices by over 100% would imply that people are paid to take medications, which is not possible. Geoffrey Joyce, from the University of Southern California’s Schaeffer Center, called this claim “total fiction.” Although efforts have been made to reduce drug costs, such dramatic reductions have not occurred.

Immigration Numbers

Trump stated that Biden allowed 25 million people into the U.S.

The Facts: This number is exaggerated. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported over 10.8 million arrests for illegal crossings from January 2021 through December 2024. These figures refer to arrests, not individual people. Under pandemic-era policies, many re-attempted crossings due to lack of legal consequences, meaning the actual number of people is lower.

Ending Wars

Trump claimed credit for ending eight wars.

The Facts: This assertion is overstated. While Trump facilitated mediations, his peace efforts do not equate to ending active wars. In several instances, conflicts did not even involve war, such as those between Egypt and Ethiopia or Israel and Hamas. Thus, his involvement was not as significant as claimed.

The Associated Press continues to provide fact-checking services to verify political statements, ensuring public discourse remains based on truth.